Information about Lake Taupō

Boat ramps

Ramp permits

A ramp permit is needed to use the Department of Internal Affairs' ramp facilities. Permits are available in hardcopy from many agents around the lake, or use our online service ePermit.

An instant fine of NZ$200.00 will be imposed for using a ramp without first getting a permit.

Kinloch Marina is a privately owned marina and has a separate ramp permit.

For a list of Ramp Permit Prices, see: Fees for boating facilities,

ePermit

Our online boat ramp permit purchasing solution.

Purchase a 24-hour, 2 to 6 consecutive days, 2-week or 12-month permit, pay online, receive a digital image permit to your email – done! No need for printing, as long as you can produce the permit on your phone or tablet when asked prior to launching.

Search online for ‘Ramp Permit Taupō’ or simply visit ramp-permit-taupo.dia.govt.nz by clicking on the icon below.

A friendly reminder that there is zero tolerance if you are unable to produce a valid ramp permit when using an Internal Affairs Lake Taupō boat ramp.

Hardcopy permits can still be purchased from a number of agents around Lake Taupō (see information below).

Purchase a permit

Link to Lake Taupō boat ramp e-Permit: https://ramp-permit-taupo.dia.govt.nz/

Ramp permit agents

Taupō area

Southern Lake Taupo area

Ramp use etiquette

Commonsense preparation procedures prevent unnecessary congestion and personal stress at ramps. Ensure you:

• Have your boat prepared prior to joining the queue. For example: bung in place, tie-downs removed, all personal gear (including lunch and warm clothing) on board, outboard support bracket and tow flag removed, etc.
• While reversing down the ramp, have a person walking beside the vehicle holding the painter (bow line) prepared to push-off the boat from the trailer. Then, move the boat to the jetty. If necessary, this person will walk the boat around the offside of the jetty thereby clearing the ramp area.
• The driver then parks the vehicle and trailer and returns to the boat, now ready to go.
• On return to the ramp from the day’s outing on the lake, approach the jetty or beach. If possible drop-off a person to retrieve the vehicle and trailer. Back the boat away into the lake. Wait for your trailer to be positioned on the ramp.
• After loading onto the trailer, drive away from the ramp to prepare for departure.

Following these procedures will speed up launching and retrieving thereby ensuring a smooth traffic flow. Finally, (to avoid delays) display your ramp permit on your boat.

Location of boat ramps

Coast guard contact

Lake Taupo Coast Guard

Fishing and angling

Anglers must hold a current licence for the Taupō fishing district, administered by the Department of Conservation.

Licences issued for other fishing districts (even Rotorua) are not valid at Taupō.

Licences are available for purchase online or from retailers and service stations in the region.

Buy a Taupo fishing license online

Anglers must know the trout fishing regulations, especially which fishing methods are prohibited, closed waters and seasons, and catch and size limits.

Find out about buying a licence, regulations, maps and access on the Department of Conservation website.

Taupō trout fishery (Department of Conservation website)

Hazards

All hazards are shown on the Lake Taupō charts.

A few are also marked by buoys or beacons.

These are hazards that are hard for boaties to find who are not trained in the art of navigation.

The most important and dangerous are:

• the Horomatangi reef
• the rock near the entry side of the access lane at Motutere Bay
• the reef and the isolated danger mark in Kawakawa Bay and
• the reef at Whakaipo.

There are of course others, but in all cases when sighting a buoy or beacon, refer to your chart to positively identify the danger, its depth and position.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia and cold is the biggest enemy on Lake Taupō.

On small craft it is imperative to carry spare woollen clothing, wetsuits or both to wear in the case of mishaps or prolonged immersion in the water.

Lake water is not as buoyant as seawater. Swimming is much more difficult in a lake, especially a cold lake.

Navigable rivers

The only rivers which can be navigated by small vessels are:

• Waikato
• Tongariro (in its delta region only)
• Tauranga-Taupō
• Waihaha
• Kuratau (at its mouth only)

A strict 5 knot speed restriction applies, with the exception of the Waikato River above the Control Gates where the speed limit is 3 knots out as far as the wooden marker piles, or no wake.

Pollution

No rubbish may be put in the Lake. You cannot pollute the lake waters with any fluid or solid matter detrimental to health. This includes bottles, tins or cartons.

It is an offence under the Resource Management Act 1991 to discharge contaminants such as treated or untreated sewage into Lake Taupō unless the discharge is specifically authorised by a resource consent.

Toilet pump out facilities are available for craft with sewage holding tanks or portable toilets at the Taupō Landing Reserve main wharf, Tokaanu wharf, Motuoapa and Kinloch marinas.

Radio and VHF transmissions

Repeater channel 61 is the standard calling frequency for VHF transmissions between craft and coastguard radio.

After contact with other craft on channel 61, for chat use line-of-sight channels 6 or 8.

For long distance use repeater channel 63.

If you don't receive a response, change back to channel 61.

In an emergency, call 111 for Police assistance.

RPAS (Drone) operation

For information on operating drones and approval on Lake Taupo, visit the Taupo Airport website.

Taupo Airport website

Rules for operating vessels

Important information for anyone operating boats or jet skis/personal watercraft (PWC).

Ten golden rules

• Watch the weather
• Don't overload
• Carry full equipment, warm clothing
• Wear tested lifejackets - a life jacket for every person on board is compulsory
• Ensure your engine is reliable
• Know the Collision Rules, the Water Recreation Regulations, the Lake Taupō Regulations and the Distress Signals
• Guard against fire
• Don't mix drinking and boating
• Carry reserve fuel
• Tell someone where you are going.

Navigational charts

Navigational charts can be purchased from the Harbourmaster's Office.

Contact the Taupō Harbourmaster

Charts are $25.00 each and two sizes are available.

There is also a chart of Lake Taupō (not to be used as a navigational chart) on the back of the Safe Boating on Taupō Moana brochure.

Taupō Moana Boating Guide (PDF, 719KB)

Boat speeds and wake

The speed limit is five knots within 200 metres of the shore or structures (such as wharves), and five knots within 50 metres of any other vessel, but special restrictions apply at:

• the Waikato River from the red-green entry beacons - three knots maximum
• the Kinloch marina entrance, two knots maximum.

Red-and-white striped buoys have been introduced to show 200 metres from shore.

Speed of small craft

No person shall propel or navigate a small craft at a proper speed exceeding 5 knots:

• within 50 metres of another vessel, raft or person in the water
• within 200 metres of the shore or of any structure
• within 200 metres of any vessel or raft that is flying flag A of the International Code of Signals (dive flag).

No person may propel or navigate a vessel at a proper speed exceeding 5 knots while any person has any portion of his or her body extending over the forepart, bow or side of that vessel.

Extracts from the Lake Taupō Navigation Safety Bylaw 2017.

Wake of vessels

Every person who propels or navigates a vessel must ensure that its wake does not cause unnecessary danger or risk of damage to other vessels, persons or structures.

Lifejackets (PFDs)

It is mandatory to have a correctly fitting lifejacket (Personal Flotation Device or PFD) for every person on board every boat. Correctly fitting lifejackets (PFDs) MUST BE WORN in all vessels 6m or less in length over all (LOA), whilst ‘making way’.

Buoys: 200m from shore

Red and white striped buoys are placed in a number of locations to show skippers 200 metres from shore.

Note 5 knots within 200 metres of the shore rule applies to all of the Lake Taupō shoreline including rivers unless otherwise stated (access lanes etc).

Minimum age of operators

No person who is under the age of 15 years shall propel or navigate a motor craft that is capable of a proper speed exceeding 10 knots.

Information to display on vessels

Naming of vessels

Powerboats 4m and over, and non-powered boats 6m and over must display a name or similar identifying mark:

• on both sides of the hull
• above the waterline

It must be clearly legible, and all characters at least 90mm in height. This cannot be the vessel's brand/make/model.

All vessels less than six metres

Emergency contacts on vessels

You must have emergency contact details, including your name and phone number somewhere on or in the vessel which is clearly visible.

Options for providing these details are:

• use a waterproof marker
• write on waterproof tape
• laminate a card and attach it to your vessel
• waterproof paint
• waterproof stick on labels

Personal water craft or jet ski

Personal floatation devices (lifejackets) must be worn when operating jet skis.

The observer rule applies to all watercraft when towing. (You must have an observer who is not under the age of ten years watching the person who is being towed).

Registration

All personal watercraft (PWC) and jet skis used in the waters of the lake must be registered. This is a requirement under the Lake Taupo Navigation Safety Bylaw 2017.

From May 2022, PWC and jetski registration is through Auckland Transport. Waikato Regional Council no longer accepts new registrations or transfers.

Register a jetski (Auckland Transport)

Transferring registration

If you are the seller and your current registration number begins with a 9, your jet ski has been registered with Waikato Regional Council. Waikato Regional Council no longer accepts transfers. Remove the registration stickers and email pwcregistrations@waikatoregion.govt.nz to deregister your jet ski.

If you are the buyer and the registration number begins with a 9, create a new registration with Auckland Transport.

Register a jetski (Auckland Transport)

If you are the seller and your current registration begins with a 1, log in to your MyAT account to start the process of transferring registration to the buyer.

Transferring jetski registration (Auckland Transport)

Ski and tow areas

Access lane markings

Access lanes enable vessels involved in towing to legally leave or approach the shore at speeds in excess of 5 knots.

Direction of travel is anti-clockwise. All access lane buoys are coloured orange and black.

You must:

• Keep to the right in the lanes.

• Enter and leave at right angles to the shore.

• Have an observer who is not under the age of 10 years to report every mishap that occurs to the person and/or object that is being towed.

• Not proceed in a manner dangerous to other persons or vessels in the lane.

• Not beach your boat in the lane.

• Not use lane for any other purposes.

• No person may operate between sunset and sunrise.

• Wear a life jacket when being towed.

Location of access lanes

• Five Mile Bay
• Hallets Bay
• Motutere Bay
• Mission Bay
• Stump Bay
• Waihi Bay
• Kuratau
• Whareroa
• Waihora Bay
• Kawakawa
• Kinloch (Whangamata Bay)
• Kaiapo Bay

Swim only areas

Lake Taupō has seven designated areas for swimming only.

These are marked with white and black banded posts ashore, and black and white buoys in the water.

No vessels may enter these areas at all:

• Yacht Club Taupō
• Main Beach Taupō
• Between 3 & 4 Mile Bays
• Kinloch
• Pukawa
• Kuratau
• Whareroa